Woven-slat shade



oct-.118;1'9z7. y '1;645,951

A. C. HOUGH FlGl FIG. i

6 INVENTOR. gw l .M1

A TTORNE Y.

1s 19 1645951 Oct 27 A. c. HOUGH WOVEN SLAT SHADE Filed April 16. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

I; n 4 62,. (La-J A TTORNE Y.

Patented ct. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES l 1,645,9Si PfrENTl OFFICE.

AZEL C. I-IOUGI-I, OF JANESVILLE, TISCONLSIN, ASSIGNOR TO HOUGH SHADE PO- RATION, 0F JANESVILLE, IVISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF CONNCTICUT.-

WOVEN-SLAT SHADE.

Application ledzipril 16, 1926. Serial o. 12,451.

My invention relates to improvements in woven shades wherein the weft consists or splints, strips, or slats, kof wood or other material having some degree of stability, and the warp consists of fabric or textile material, and resides in a plurality of interwoven slat wefts and a plurality of tape and cord warps, there being, in the preferred construction, combination tape and cord warp units,

cord warp units between said combination warp units, and cord warg units between the longitudinal edges or ends ofthe shade and the two outer combination warp units, together with such other parts and members as may be necessary .or desirable inorder to render the shade complete and serviceable in every respect, all as hereinafter set forth.

At the present time, the appearance'of a shade of this character `is almost as important a. feature as the utility ofthe shade as al screen or barrier, against sunlight and for the purpose of preserving privacy, hence the desirability of utilizing tapes in place of twine or cord for the warpin shadel con struction. It has been found, however, that dependence can not be placed on tape warp alone, for the reasonthat such warp causes alternate slats to spring in the same direction, or one slat to b ow out beyond the slat immediately above or below the same, such deflection being brought about by the unequal or uneven pull of the tapes on the slats, and especially ofthe outside tapes in a group.

torted, something which never results from the use of cord or. twine warp, and especially that of theinterlocking type, such as forms the subject matter of Letters. Patentofthe United States, No. 748,734-, datedJanuary 5, 1904;, .and which is preferably used in the present shade. These warp cords are used in pairs, and such cords cross lon opposite sides of alternate slats, and alternately passk "f on opposite sides of the slats'betwecn, whereby is produced a weave or web that: is sulficiently tightto prevent end-chase and for all other purposes. It is impracticable, of course, to cross warp tapes, but thefrictional engagement between such tapes and the slats is relatively so great, as compared with warp cords, that the tapes hold theslatsi against endwise movementand permanently in place.

The tape warp is relatively very expensive,randif it were*practicable,"y from a Even if very narrow tapes be used for the warp, they cause thexsla'ts to, be dis` mechanical standpoint, to use said warp i without the cord warp in shades, the cost of the shades would be increased to an entent that would be almost if not absolutely prohibitive, but, by combining these two warps, I am able to separate the tape warp to such an extent as materiallyrto reduce the amount used and'proportionately the expense, and at the same time obtain both the mechanical and `decorative eifects'produced by the tape. Thus is obtained a shade of both the required strength and effectivenessy and at a reasonable cost. Inasmuch as theV tape warp 1s a substitute for a considerable amount of cord warp, and the latter maybe smaller or ylighter in weight thanthe former, there is an additional saving to the credit of the former.

On some accounts the tape ywarp is to be preferred for utilitarian as well as ornamental purposes, but, owing to itsv excessive cost, m connection with the fact that itis diflicult to weave with tape warp alone without rthrowing the weft out of line, becausek of the draw of the two outside tapes in each group, where three or more tapes in a group are employed, it is necessary to employ some cord warp, as I have explained.

The cord warp is used on each side of each warp tape or group of warp tapes, and also at ysuch intervals as may be deemed necessary between the combination warp units (tape and cord groups) to obtain the required strength and stability;l

, One object` of my invention is, therefore, to produce Woven-Slat` shades withr thesvaid of tape warp, which shades are strong and durablefand free from end-chase, in which Y the slats doy not become deflected or bowed,

and wherein it is .possible to 'reduce the eX- pense ofthe tape warp by separatingk t-he same to an extent that would not be practicable if such warp were employed alone; in short, to produce commercially shades` hav-v Ving tape warp incorporated in their texteure.

` A further object is to provide means, in a shade of this character, for cutting it down kto rdifferent widths withouty impairment of the same, thus enabling the shade to be litted to a porch of someparticular width less than that of the shade as originally manufactured. VThus is avoidedthe necessity'of weaving shades in special widths, which' can not easily be done. I attain thiso'bjectby weavin'gfinto the shade one or more addillG tional cord Warps bet-Ween the longitudinal edges (defined by the ends of the slats) of the shade and the outermost combination Wett unit.

It Would be difiicult to make shades of special Widths, a great many ot which are required, since to do this Would require changing the location ot the tape Warp. The machinery Which handles the tape Warp is very complicated and not adapted to be moved or changed easily or readily, t'or the purpose ofWeaving said Warp into different shades at different distances apart. The extra amount of cord Warp, adjacent to the longitudinal edges oi the shade, makes it possible to cut doWn the shade in Width several inches at each of such edges, depending upon the number of' extra or additional cord Warp units introduced into the fabric, and thus to cut doWn the shade Without nef `cessitating any change of location oi the end combination Warp units.

Other objects and advantages Will appear in the course of the following description.

I attain the object-s and secure the advantages of my invention, by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a side elevation of a Wovenslat shade Which embodies a practical and preferred form of my invention, intermediate portions thereof vertically being broken out, and a portion ot the bottom moulding broken out; Fig. 2, an enlarged, vertical section through a portion ot said shane, ilv lustrating the manner in Which the combination Warp units are interwoven With the Wett units; Fig. 3aragmentary portion of a modified shade, in side elevation; and Fig. et, a similar view illustrating another modilication. Y

Similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the preferred construction groups oi tWo or more Warp tapes are used. ln Fig. l eachgroup o'li Warp tape consists of tWo narroW tapes and an intermediate Wide tape. ltis to be understood, however, that` the number and Width of the tapes may vary to a considerable extent, and that tnere may be only one tape in a combination Warp unit, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and a. lt is to be understood, furthermore, that each cord Warp unit, Whether independent or as a part ot a combination Warp unit, should consist of tWo cords, it the necessary strength and rigidity are to be imparted thereby to the shade, although it is possible to construct a shade With single instead of double or tWin cord Warp units, as Will sub sequently be explained.

The Woven por ion oit the shade shown in the firstvieW consists of a plurality ot thin, ll'at, strips or Weft units l, With Which are interwoven a plurality of combination Vquite Widely spaced apart.

Warp units, as a, a plurality of simple, reinforcing Warp units, as b, and a plurality of simple, extra Warp units, as c, hereinafter described in detail. The aforesaid Woven portion ot the shade is provided at the top and bottom With inouldings 2 2 of any suitable construf..tion, such mouldings as those shoWn in the aforesaid patent being the type most commonly employed.

Each combination Warp unit a consists of tWo cord Warp units and a group ot' tWo or more tapes between said cord Warp units, and each cord Warp unit consists of tWo cords. rlhere are three of the tapes in each i group in the present example, tWo of them being narrow and indicated by the numeral 3 and the other being Wide and indicated by the numeral 5'-, The Wide tape is betWeen the narrow tapes in each group. Here adjacent tapes pass on. opposite sides of each Wett unit l, in opposite directions between said Wett unit and the next adjacent Weft unit either above or beloW the first, on opposite sides but in interchanged relationship, of the second Wei't unit, and so on, Whereby a strong and effective Web is produced. TWO cords, indicated by the numeral 5, are ordinarily used for each simple Warp unit, and, like the tapes, pass on opposite sides of a Welt unit l, in opposite directions between said Wett unit and the next adjacent Wett unit either above or beloW7 the first, and on opposite sides oi the second Wett unit, but in changed relationship relatively. On opposite sides of every alternate We'l't unit l the tWo cords cross each other to produce the lock stitch to Which reference has been inferentially made. The tapes 3 and el and the cords 5 securely grasp and hold the slats l, the tapes supplying What the cords tail to supply, and vice versa. End-chase and lateral deflection ot the slats at and adjacent to the combination Warp units are absolutely prevented. L

Actually these combination Warp units are Due to the Wide spacingit is ordinarily advisable to intro duce into the fabric a simple cord Warp unit between each adjacent pair of combination Warp units, as clearly shown at b. These supplementary Warp units materially strengthen and stabilize the fabric, and pre/- vent deflection on the part of the Weft units bet-Ween the combination Warp units.

Outside of the outer combination Warp units, or between such units and the adjacent edges of the shade, are additional, simple, cord Warp units c, there being tWo at each end portion of the shade in the present example, although there may be more or less than that number. Obviously, the shade can be cut the Whole length at either end betWeen the pair of extra cord Warp units c at that end, or between the inner one of such units and the outer cordWarp unit of the c io `adjacent combination warp unit a.

www

p n Thus the shade'is capable of being cut to different widths. i

From the foregoing it will be understood that a. designates a combination warp unit which consists of both tape and cord. while designates a simple warp unit which consists of cord and is located' at some distance from a combination warp unit (a), and c also designates a simple'warp unit that consists of cord, but which is used with one or more similar warp units or cords and located. adjacent to one side edge of the shade. The simple warp units b, which generally used singly, are for reenforcing purposes, while the single warp unit-s c several of which are used adjacent to one or ,both side edges of the shade` are for the pur pose of providing said shade with a selvage edge or edges of a character that permits of trimming to narrow the shade by decreasing the distance between said edges.

Each of the top and bottom mouldings usually consists of a pair of strips secured bv any suitable means on opposite sides of the lowermost weft unit or units l, and the ends of tapes 3 and t and cords 5 are passed between said strips and said weft units and secured in place with the contiguous meinbers.

A single cord may be looped at the top or bottom of the shade to produce a twin cord warp unit. instead of actually using two cords which are separate at both ends.

Seine twine has been found to be especially well adapted for the cord warp units.

In the 3 shade, there is but one warp tape G in each combination warp unit a, the

rest of said unit coi'isisting` of twin warp cords 5 on opposite sides of said tape, as in the first example. This is the simplest type of combination warp unit, and is entirely practicable.

A single. instead of double or twin, simple cord warp unit is illustrated in the Fig. 4; shade. `rlhis is used in the combination warp units a, and for the reinforcing warn units Z). A single tape 6 between two cords 7 on the outside make up each combination warp unit a in the illustration, but itis obvious that there might be two or' more tapes grouped with the two single cords 7. Both single cords 7 and twin cords 5 might be wovenY into the same shade.

That my shade is susceptible to considerable modification or change is plainly to be seen` and this without departing from the spirit of my invention or exceeding the scope of what is claimed.

What l claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Let-ters Patent, is

l. In a woven-Slat sha`de,'a webcomprising a plurality of slats, two or more tapes interwoven with said slats next adjacent tapes always alternating with each other on Vrthe. same side of any given slat, and cords interwoven with said slats adjacent to the outermost edges of said tapes.

2. In a Vwoven-Slat shade, a web comprising a plurality of slats, two or more tapes passing between said slats and alternately on opposite sides thereof, so that no two tapes'which are next adjacent to each other are on the same side of the same slat, and cords passing between said slats and alten natvely on opposite sides thereof with one cord on one side and another cord on the opposite side of the same/Slat in each case.

3. As an improved article of manufacture, a woven-Slat shade comprising interwoven slats and tapes and cords, said tapes and cords being arranged in groups and spaced apart, and each of such groups including both a tape and cords, and reinforcing cords interwoven with said slats between said Y groups.

4. As an improved article of manufacture, a woven-slat shade comprising interwoven slats and tapes and cords` certain'of said cords being interwoven with said slats between the ends thereof and the outer tapes, whereby portions of the shade may be cut off without impairing the remaining portion of the same.

5. As an improved article of manufacture, a woven-Slat shade comprising interwoven slats and tapes and cords, said tapes and cords beingl arranged in groups spaced. apart, and each of such groups including both a tape or tapes and cords, and additional. cords interwoven with said slats between the ends thereof and the outer groups of tapes and cords, whereby port-ions of the shade may be cut off without impairing the remaining portion of t-he same.

6. As an improved article of manufacture, a woven-Slat shader comprising interwoven slats and tapes and cords, certain of said cords being interwoven wit-h said slats between at points remote from said tapes, for reinforcing purposes, and certain others of said cords being interwoven with said slats between the ends thereof and the outer tapes, whereby portions of the same may be cut oft without impairing the remaining portion of the same.

7. As an improved article of manufacture, a woven-slatshade comprising interwoven slats and tapes and cords, said tapes .and cords being arranged in groups spaced apart, and each of such groups including both a tapel or tapes and cords, reinforcing cords interwoven with said slats between saidrgroups, and additional cords interwoven with said slats between the. ends thereof and the outer groups of tapes and cords, whereby port-ions of the saine may be cut off without impairing the remaining portion of the same.V

S. As an improved article of manufacture,

a woven-Slat shade comprising a plurality of wett units, and a plurality of combination warp units each consisting` ot' associated tapes and cordsv arranged with the next adjacent tapes always alternating with each other on the saine side of any given slat, and with one cord on one side and another cord on the opposite side of said slat.

9. As an improved article of manufacture, a woven-Slat shade comprising a plurality ot wett units, a plurality of co1nbination warp units each consisting of associated tapes and cords arranged with the tapes between the cords, and reinforcing` cord warp units between said combination warp units.

l0. As an improved article or" manufacture, a woven-Slat shade comprising` a pluraility of wett units, and a plurality of coinbination warp units each consisting,` of associated tapes and cords arranged with the tapes between the cords, and additional cord warp units between the ends of said weft units and the outer combination warp units, whereby provision is inade 'for cutting oit portions of the shade at the ends without iinpairing the remainingl portion ot the salne.

ll. As an improved article of manufacture, a woven-Slat shade comprising' a plurality ot wett units, a plurality of combination warp units each consisting of associated tapes and cords, arranged with the tapes between the cords, reinforcing Cord warp units between said combination warp units, and additional cord warp units between t-he ends ot said wett units and the outer combination warp units7 whereby provision is made tor cutting off portions of the shade at the ends without ilnpairing the remaining portion of the sarne.

MEL o. HoUGH. 

